glasscontainers

OK, you've decided to use glass containers to store all your food in. But which types of containers should you buy?  There are several versions on the market.

The first type is plain glass storage jars. These are old-fashioned glass jars that vary in size from small spice jars to gallon-sized cookie jars. They usually come with heavy fitted glass lids. Use these jars to store dry foods that you want to protect from moisture - so cookies and candy, flour and sugar, pulses and beans.  Because the jars are made from clear glass you can not only see at a glance what they hold (and how much is left in them), but they make for a pretty decorative look to your kitchen shelf.

Next there are the glass storage containers that go into the freezer. These are usually used to store leftovers in, or if you are storing the results of a bulk cook-out.  There are several different types of makes of these around. Pyrex storage containers and Anchor Hocking storage containers can usually be used to bake in as well. This means you can bake your casserole in the container, serve it up, then seal the left-overs in the container using the fitted plastic lids. The container then goes into the freezer for storing. When you are ready to consume the leftovers, you simply take it out of the freezer, remove the lid, and then re-heat either in the oven or the microwave.

Kinetic Glasslock and Snapware make glass containers that go into the fridge, freezer and microwave but not into the oven. These are great if you don't oven cook much but make things on top of the hob instead. Simply transfer the contents into the container, and then freeze and microwave as required.

You can also get upmarket containers such as those made by Libbey, plus specialised containers such as those made by Hario, which are used to cook rice in the microwave. Finally, Innobaby make containers designed specially to hold baby foods.